About the Flag of Pelotas

The flag is a vertical triband, light blue-white-light blue, with the coat
of arms on the center. The coat of arms was designed by Artur Henrique
Foerstnow and adopted in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Pelotas
on 24 October 1961. The field is divided quarterly, (1) blue with an Indian
rowing a hide-covered boat called a pelota, from which the city takes its
name, in white; (2) white with a black bullock, recalling the beef drying industry with which Pelotas
originated; (3) white with a green rose, the symbol of the charity of the
patron of the municipality, St. Francis de Paul, inscribed with the letters
S, F, D, P, C; (4) blue with a white obelisk, the monument erected during
the monarchy by republican idealists, which was the initial landmark for the settlement of the city.
Overall on the center is a red and white cross of the Order of Christ
(inaccurately described in the source as a "cross of Malta") in homage to
the Portuguese explorers. The shield is flanked by branches of golden rice
(the major source of agricultural income for the region) and green laurel
(in recognition of the anniversary of the city). The shield is ensigned with
a gold mural crown with five towers showing. The scroll is inscribed
Princesa do Sul (Princess of the South). Source:
www.citybrazil.com.br/rs/pelotas/geral.htm.Joseph McMillan, 1 August 2002